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U10 


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DITSON  &  CO.'S  STAKDARD  OPERA  LIBRETTO. 


MERRY  VIVCS 


r  WINDSOR. 


eOMiG  ePERA  IN  TRREE  agts, 

BY  orre  nig0lai. 


ADAPTED  FllOAI  i<llAKKsl'EAlU:'s  COMEDY £Y 

H.  S.  neSENTHAL. 


Translated  and  xidapted  for  Perjurnnucv  m  English  Jjy 

H.  E.  KREHBIEL, 


h^Mmi'Ti  amr»|>fc^  *iirf>i 


Olive^r  Dirson  (f^  Co. 

GW,l)irsoN  z^  Co  =  New  Yo'k< 

LYON  ^  flEALY      =  CMIO^GO 


OG©GGlOOOOOQQOOOOOOOO©QOO&QOQaO©QOO( 


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H.    DITSON    A.    CO.,  LYON    &    HEALY,  J.    E.    DIT60N    k,    CO., 

NEW    YORK.  CHICAGO.  PHILADELPHIA. 


BOOK   OF  WORDS 


THE 


MERRY  WIVES  OF 
WINDSOR 


COMIC    OPERA    IN   THREE   ACTS 


ADAPTED     FROM     SHAKESPEARE'S     COMEDY 


BY 


H.   S.    MOSENTHAL 

THE    MUSIC    BY    OTTO    JilCOL/II 


Translated  and  Adapted  for  Performance  in  English  hy 

H.    E.    Krehbiel 


BOSTON 

OLIVER    DITSON    &    CO 

NEW   YORK  CHICAGO  PHILADELPHIA 

CHAS.    H.    DITSON    &    CO  LYON    &    HEALY  J.    E.    DITSON    <t    CO 


MUSIC  LIBRARY 

University  of  California 
Berkeley 


ARGUMENT. 


The  plot  of  Nicolai's  opera  follows  closely  that  of  Shakespeare's  comedy,  though  the 
action  is  confined  entirely  to  the  adventures  of  Falstaff  with  the  merry  wives,  with  the 
love  of  Fenton  and  Anne  as  an  incident.  Falstaff'hsL^  lost  his  roystering  followers,  Bar- 
dolph^  Pistol^  and  Nym-^  and  we  are  also  deprived  of  the  unctuous  Welsh  parson.  Sir 
Hugh  Evan%^  while,  in  return,  the  milksop  character  of  Slender  has  been  happily 
accentuated  in  the  music.  The  action  begins  with  the  receipt  by  Mrs.  Ford  and  Mrs. 
Page  of  Sir  John's  love-letters,  and  proceeds  thereafter  in  close  imitation  of  the  original 
comedy,  with  the  omission  of  the  scenes  which  have  no  direct  connection  with  the  fat 
Knight's  amatory  adventures.  Sir  John  is  inveigled  into  two  visits  to  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Ford.,  with  the  familiar  results.  First  he  is  carried  out  in  a  basket,  covered  with  foul 
linen,  and  "  thrown  into  the  Thames,  and  cooled,  glowing  hot,  in  that  surge,  like  a  horse- 
shoe." The  second  time  he  encounters  Ford' s  cm^^qS..  A  third  meeting  is  then  arranged 
for  Windsor  Park,  where  Sir  John^  after  suffering  much  in  his  amiable  dignity  by 
reason  of  his  absurd  attitude  (for  which,  to  keep  in  countenance,  he  must  needs  find  a 
parallel  in  classic  mythology),  is  held  up  to  ridicule  after  being  tormented  by  the  mock 
fairies,  and  then  forgiven  for  the  sake  of  the  lesson  learned  by  all,  and  the  severity  of  the 
punishment  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  keen,  witty,  and  light-hearted  women. 

The  opera  had  its  first  production  in  Berlin,  in  May,  1849.  ^'^  May,  1864,  it  was 
brought  out  in  Italian  (the  title  changed  to  "  Falstaff")  at  Her  Majesty's  in  London,  and 
two  years  later  Parisians  made  its  acquaintance  at  the  Theatre  Lyrique  as  "  Les  Joyeuses 
Commeres  de  Windsor."  In  the  version  prepared  for  the  American  Opera  the  translator 
has  taken  a  few  liberties  with  the  text  in  01  Jer  to  make  as  much  use  as  possible  of  Shake- 
sperean  phraseology,  and  has  also  filled  out  the  dialogue  in  a  degree  with  drafts  from 
the  comedy. 


PERSONS   REPRESENTED, 


Sir  John  Falstaff. 

Mr.  Ford.  )  Two    gentlemen   dwelling   at 

Mr.  Page,  j      Windsor. 

Fenton. 

Slender. 

Dr.  Caius,  a  French  Physician. 

Mistress  Ford. 

Mistress  Page. 

Anne  Page,  her   daughter,    in   love   with 

Fenton. 
Host  of  the  Garter  Inn. 


Citizens. 


A  Waiter. 

First 

Second 

Third 

Fourth 

Chorus  and  Ballet. 

Citizens  and  Wives  of  Windsor. 

Masks  of  Fairies,  elves  and  other  sprites, 

gnats,  flies,  etc. 
Two  servants  of  Mr.  Ford. 
Waiter. 


(2) 


Scene  —  Windsor  and  the  farts  adjacent* 


M 


T]IE 


Merry  Wives  of  Windsor. 


ACT  I. 


SCENE  I.—  Yard.  On  the  right  side,  the  house  of 
Mr.  Page  —  on  the  left,  Mr.  Ford^s  house.  {Enter 
Mistress  Ford  with  a  letter.) 

Mistress  Pord, 

Now  this  is  really  quite  too  bad, 

How  dares  he  thus  to  vex  me  ? 
The  drunken  sot  is  surely  mad 

With  love  vows  to  perplex  me ! 
Ah  !    If  he  were  a  gallant  knight, 

Young,  handsome,  proud  in  bearing  — 
But  of  all  lovers  such  as  this. 

May  heav'n  be  kindly  sparing ! 
Can  I  the  note  have  read  correctly? 

\Reads:\ 
''  The  kindly  fates,  fair  lady, 

Us  for  each  other  made  ; 
Your  eyes  gleam  like  the  starlight. 

Your  blood  is  far  from  staid  —  " 
Now  is  it  strange  one's  wrath  should  rise, 
When  such  a  beast  extols  one's  eyes  ? 

^Continuing  to  read.] 

*'  You  love  good  sack,  and  so  do  I ; 

Here,  then,  is  sympathy  —  " 
What  means  the  coarse  and  scurvy  knave, 
I,  sack?     I  never  drink  ! 

[J^eads.] 
*^  Read  me  aright. 

Thine  own  true  knight, 
By  day  or  night. 
Or  any  light. 
With  all  his  might, 
For  thee  to  fight. 

John  Falstaff." 


Ha  !  wait  a  while,  my  foolish  fellow. 
For  these  bold  words  I'll  make  you  bellow ! 
With  my  fair  neighbor,  Mistress  Page, 
I'll  hatch  a  plot  will  make  you  rage ! 

[Fnter  Mistress  Page,  also  with  an  open  letter  in  her 
hand.  She  does  not  at  once  perceive  Mistress  Ford.\ 

Mrs.  Page. 

To  Mistress  Ford  I'll  quickly  run, 
O'er  this  queer  note  to  ponder ; 

Such  folly  ne'er  before  was  done. 
Where  are  his  wits,  I  wonder? 

{Observing  Mrs.  Ford."] 

Upon  my  word. 

Here's  Mistress  Ford ! 

Can  I,  my  dear,  your  thoughts  engage  — 

Afrs.  Pord. 
And  can  I  yours,  fair  Mistress  Page  ? 

Mrs.  Page. 
See  this  amusing  billet-doux  — 

Mrs.  Pord. 
A  note,  my  dear  ?     Why,  I've  one  too  ! 

Mrs.  Page. 
A  silly  fool  has  writ  to  me  ! 

Mrs.  Pord. 
Oh,  read  it  out ! 

Mrs.  Page. 
Yes,  I  agree ! 


''  The  kindly  fates,  fair  lady, 
Us  for  each  other  made  — 


[Peads.] 


Mrs.  Pord. 

[Astounded,  reading  her  own  letter \ 
'*  Us  for  each  other  made  —  " 


549 


THE    MERRT    WIVES    OE     WINDSOR, 


Mrs.  Page. 

**  Your  eyes  gleam  like  the  starlight, 
Your  blood  is  far  from  staid  —  " 


Mrs.  Ford. 
^*  Your  blood  is  far  from  staid —  '* 


Go  on ! 


Mrs.  Page. 


*'  You  love  good  sack,  and  so  do  I ; 
Here,  then,  is  sympathy  —  " 

Mrs.  Ford, 

^*  Here,  then,  is  sympathy  —  " 
Proceed,  dear  !  proceed,  dear  ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 


S 


:5zjt 


Both. 

"  Read  me  aright, 
Thine  own  true  knight, 
By  day  or  night. 
Or  any  light. 
With  all  his  might. 
For  thee  to  fight. 

John  Falstaff/ 

What  an  outrage  !     Past  redeeming ! 

Dares  he  thus  true  wives  pursue  ? 
Fie  upon  his  lustful  scheming, 

His  vile  daring  he  shall  rue  ! 
To  protect  our  wifely  dower 

We  must  cunningly  contrive  ; 
Woman's  craft  and  subtle  power, 

Must  at  our  revenge  connive  ! 


Mrs.  Page. 


P-- 


^ 


Allegretto. 


Now    tell      me     your       in   -  ten   -  tion. 


I'll  straight  to     Mis  -  ter 


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Mrs.  Ford. 


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An     im  -   po  -  tent     in  -    ven  -  tion, 


You're   an  -    y  -  thing  but 


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sage.   Our    fun  would  thus    be  end 


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Mrs.  Page. 


Mrs.  Ford. 


do !     No,      no,    that    will     not     do ! 


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We'll  offer  comfort  in  his  suit, 
And  e'en  appoint  a  meeting  ; 

Then,  having  trapped  the  greasy  brute, 
Provide  for  him  a  beating  ! 


Both,  pp 

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Mrs  Page, 

The  plan  w^ill  ser\'e ! 


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Our  heads  we'll  now     to-geth  -  er    lay,  To   trick    the  knave  this    ve  -   ry   day  Knight,your  best      de- 


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Allegretto  vivo. 


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THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF   WINDSOR, 


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Soon  we'll  cure  your  ach  -  ing  heart ! 


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Craft  and     cunning, 


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Soon  we'll  cure  your    ach  -ing  heart !  Craft  and  cun-ning, 


art-  ful  springes,  Craft  and 


cresc.poco  apoco. 


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Craft  and  cunning. 


art  -ful  springes,  Will  your  pond'rous  hulk  ensnare. 


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cunning, 


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art-  ful    springes. 


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THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF    WINDSOR, 


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in  •  flict    a    thousand  twin  -  ges,  Therefore,scur  -  vy  knave,      be  -    ware. 


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\They  hurry  into  the  house  of  Mrs,  Ford-I 


w^- 


THE  MERRT   WIVES   OF   WINDSOR. 


Scene  II.  —  Mr.  Ford,  Mr.  Page^  Slender  and  Cuius. 
Enter  in  conversation. 

Ford, 

Gentlemen,  I  desire  your  company  within. 
We  have  a  hot  venison  pasty  to  dinner  and 
I  hope  you  w^ill  discuss  it  with  me. 

Page, 

Excuse  me,  neighbor  Ford.  My  wife 
awaits  me. 

Slender, 

Thank  you  also,  forsooth  heartily,  but  I 
have  accepted  an  invitation  from  Master 
Page,  and  I  would  not  for  a  sum  lose  the 
chance  to  dine  with  sweet  Anne. 

Caius, 

[Aside.] 
Ce  Jack'nape ! 

Page, 

You  have  my  good  will,  Master  Slender, 
in  your  suit  for  my  fair  daughter,  though 
Mistress  Page  looks  favoringly  upon  the  doc- 
tor here. 

Caius, 

Ouz^  fardieu !  And  the  lady  loves  me 
too.     I  have  read  it  in  her  lovely  eyes ! 

,  Slender, 

[Aside.] 
O,  5weet  Anne ! 

Ford, 

[  To  Caius.] 

*Tis    deceptive    literature,    good    doctor ! 

The   women   love   to    scatter   it   broadcast. 

That  I  know  from  my  own  wife,  whom  I 

cannot  watch  closely  enough. 

[Growing  vehement.] 
But  if  ever  I  catch  a  lover  with  her,  I'll  — 

Page. 

Keep  your  peace,  neighbor  Ford.  Your 
/eternal  jealousy  but  wrongs  a  virtuous  wo- 
anan  and  makes  of  you  a  butt. 

Ford, 

And  you  will  trust  your  wife  —  you  will 
lie*  be  jealous,  till  your  pate  supports  a 
branching  ornament !  Trust  a  Fleming  with 
your  butter,  a  Welchman  with  your  cheese, 
an  Irishman  with  your  aqua-vitae  bottle,  or  a 
thief  with  your  ambling  gelding,  but  not  a 
wife  with  herself.  O  these  women,  these 
women  I 


Page, 
And  yet  we  will  not  quarrel.     I  know  you 
are  incorrigible.     Let  us  in. 

Ford. 
Good  day,  gentlemen.     I  would  not  leave 
my  wife  too  long  alone  ! 

Scene   III.  —  Page,  Slender,  and  Dr,  Caius.    After- 
ward Fenton, 

Page. 

[  To  Slender :\ 
Enter   the   house,    meanwhile   my   worthy 

son-in-law. 
There  soon  again  I'll  join  you. 

Slender, 

[Entering  Page's  housed 
O  sweetest  Anne ! 

Caius, 

[Furiously^ 
Son-in-law  J  Mort  de  ma  vie !  We're 
not  so  far  advance  !  Myself  sail  kill-a  him, 
ce  Monsieur  Slender,  and  take  possession 
of  la  belle  Anna  I  Be  gar  !  I  will  by  all  ze 
diablcs ! 

[Exit.] 
Page, 

Ugh  !    That  ugly  parlez-vous  I 

Ah!  whatdoes  Master  Fenton  here.? 

Your  pleasure  ! 

Fenton, 
Your  sweet  daughter. 

Page, 
What,  my  daughter ! 

Fenton, 
Her  to  whom  my  heart  belongs. 


Page, 

Was  the  like  e*er  seen  before  ? 

Such  a  paltry,  piddling  beggar 
Dares  my  daughter's  hand  implore  ! 

Fenton, 
Wealth,  indeed,  I  cannot  offer  — 

Page, 
That  full  well  I  understand. 
Fenton, 
Love  requited  still  I  proffer. 
And  a  stout  and  willing  hand  ! 


[Aside.\ 


THE   MERRT  WIVES   OF  WINDSOR. 


Page. 
Very  good  ;  but  one  great  flaw  — 

Fenton. 
O  trust  my  love  ;  it's  true  and  tender  I 


Page. 

Mars  your  claim. 
Now  Master  Slender 

Is  a  worthier  son-in-law. 


lAside:\ 


Eenton. 
Recall  the  days  of  youth  and  pleasure, 

When  o'er  your  bosom  love  held  sway ; 
Refuse  me  not  my  life's  fond  treasure, 

Nor  send  me  coldly  thus  away  ! 
Deny  me  not  this  greatest  blessing. 

Avoid  what  you  would  later  rue. 
Though  neither  wealth  nor  lands  possessing, 

I'm  rich  in  love  that's  fond  and  true. 

Page. 

[Aside.] 
Who  to  me  no  wealth  can  render 
Stands  no  chance  'gainst  Master  Slender. 
Better  suitor,  to  my  mind, 
My  fair  daughter  can  not  find. 
His  vast  wealth  I  view  with  zest, 
Safely  placed  at  interest. 
Yielding,  (to  believe  I've  grounds,) 
Annually  six  hundred  pounds, 
With  an  ever-growing  trade  ! 
Anne's  fortune's  surely  made  ! 

Fenton, 
Do  you  consent  ?     Have  I  your  voice  .^ 

Page. 
No,  no  ;  I've  made  a  better  choice  ! 

Fenton. 
Ah,  none  so  truly  will  defend  her  I 

Page. 
Indeed  !  How's  our  young  Master  Slender.? 

Fenton. 

What !     He  !     And  for  this  parrakeet 
Am  I  denied? 

Page. 
You're  not  discreet ! 
Do  not  insult  my  son-in-law ; 
Anne's  not  for  you  ;  so,  sir,  withdraw  ! 


Fenton. 
And  this  is  all  you  have  to  say  } 

Page. 
Excuse  me,  sir,  I  must  away ! 

Fenton. 

Good  neighbor  Page,  be  on  your  guard ; 
I  love  your  daughter,  will  labor  hard 
To  put  to  naught  your  cruel  scheming  ; 
True  love  ne'er  yet  was  idle  seeming ! 
Though  greed  and  tyranny  combine 
I  swear  your  daughter  shall  be  mine ! 

Page.  . 

Good  sir,  your  threat'ning  tongue  retard  ! 
Anne  Page  your  love  can  ne'er  regard. 
Vain  are  the  plots  with  which  you're  teeming, 
Vain  all  the  hopes  that  fill  your  dreaming. 
Forget  your  love,  cease  to  repine. 
To  you  her  hand  I'll  ne'er  consign  ! 

\Exit  both^  Page  into  his  house.] 

Scene  IV.  —  A  room  in  Ford^s  House.    Mrs.  Ford. 

[Entering  from  the  side  door  at  the  /e/t.] 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Now  to  my  aid,  fun,  wit  and  humor. 
The  maddest  mischief,  trick  and  artifice ! 
Naught's  too  severe  that  sei-ves  my  purpose 
To  give  our  self-elected  lords  a  drubbing. 
Ah,  what  a  tribe  !     So  profligate. 
Too  great  a  punishment  does  not  exist ! 
And  first  of  all,  yon  watery  pumpion 
Who  fain  my  love  would  seek,  shall  rue  his 

conduct ! 
But  when  he  comes,  how  might  I  best  extend 

him  greeting.? 
How  best  address  him  ?    Ah,  I  have  it  now  ! 
Deceiver  !     Why  do  you  thus 
A  woman's  wifely  honor  assail  ? 
The  outrage  I  should  ne'er  condone. 
My  rage  should  punishment  demand.  — 
But  ah  !     A  woman's  heart  is  soft !  — 
Your  suit,  so  eloquently  urged. 
Your  sighs  —  make  me  relent  — 
No  longer  can  I  cruel  be  ! 
And  I  confess  it,  blushing.  Sir  John, 
My  gallant  knight,  I  love  you  ! 
Ha  !  Ha  !  Ha  !  Ha  !     He  will  believe  me ! 
My  part,  indeed,  I  play  quite  well 
Though  venturesome  beyond  a  doubt 
The  little  joke  escapes  harsh  condemnation. 


lO 


THE   MERRT   WIVES   OF    WINDSOR. 


Mrs  Eord. 


Toco  meno  mosso. 


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THE  MERRT   WIVES   OF    WINDSOR, 


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12 


THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF   WINDSOR. 


Scene  V.  —  Mistress  Ford,  Mistress  Page. 

Mrs.  Page. 

{Entering  cautiously. '\ 
Well,  Gossip  Ford  —  is  all  prepared  ? 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Everything  is  in  readiness.  Behold  the 
basket  I 

Mrs.  Page. 

[Laughing.] 
Capital !    Ha,  ha,  ha  !  And  the  servants? 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Will  answer  my  call.  And  have  you  dis- 
charged your  commissions  ^ 

Mrs.  Page. 

In  all  things  as  we  had  agreed.  To  your 
husband  I  have  sent  a  letter  wherefrom  he 
learned,  that  this  evening  he  may  find  a 
lover  with  his  wife. 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Glorious  !  Then  both  wiU  be  punished  ; 
my  husband  for  his  senseless  jealousy  — 

Mrs.  Page. 
And  the  fat  knight  for  his  impudence. 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Then  to  your  post !  I  hear  him  coming  ! 
Remember  your  cue. 

Mrs.  Page. 
Now  play  your  part  well ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 

We'll  teach  him  to  know  turtles  from 
jays ! 

Scene  W.^' Mrs.  Ford,  Mrs.  Page,  Falstaff,  Slender, 
Ford,  Cuius,  Page,  and  Chorus. 

Falstaff. 

Have  I  at  last  then  caught  thee, 

My  heavenly  jewel  rare  ? 
This  eager  heart  that  sought  thee 

Shall  make  thee  lady  fair  ! 

[  Tries  to  emhrace  her.] 

Mrs.  Ford. 

[Pising,  and  affecting  modesty^ 
Ah,  sweet  Sir  John,  my  blushes  spare  ! 


Falstaff.  Wk 

How  now,  my  love,  abandon  care ; 
Come,  sweet,  discard  all  sorrow ! 
Your  fears  I'll  all  disprove  ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 

I  fear  that  on  the  morrow 
You  will  forget  your  love  ! 

Falstaff. 
As  I  am  chaste  and  free  from  error  — 

Mrs.  Ford, 
Not  quickly  I'll  engage  — 

Falstaff. 
Come,  sweetheart,  cast  aside  all  terror ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 
You  love,  too,  Mistress  Page ! 

[Mistress  Page  appears  listening  at  the  door,  le/t.] 

Falstaff. 

What !     That  ill-favored  beldame ! 

Whence  got  you  that  conceit? 
She  limps  like  any  cripple ! 

I'm  not  a  fool  complete  ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Well,  heaven  knows  I  love  you, 
My  brave  and  gallant  knight ! 

Falstaff. 

By  yon  bright  sun  above  you, 
You  are  my  soul's  delight ! 

Mrs.  Page. 

[Knocking  at  the  door  from  without^ 
Mistress  Ford ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 

[Feigning  alarm.] 
Some  one  knocks ! 

Mrs.  Page. 

Mistress  Ford,  be  quick,  unlock  I 

Mrs.  Ford. 
Alas! 

Falstaff. 

[In  an  undertone,  frightened^ 
What's  this?     Speak,  Mistress  Ford  I 


Mrs,  Page, 


Mistress  Ford ! 


[Knocking^ 


THE    MERRT    WIVES    OF     WINDSOR, 


n 


Falstaff, 
Heav'n  help  me ! 

Mrs,  Ford, 

[A/oud.] 
Yes,  at  once ! 

[To  Falstaff:\ 
Conceal  yourself,  my  sweet  one  ! 

\Falstaff' goes  behind  the  arras.     Mrs.  Page  knocks 
again^  Mrs.  Ford  opens  the  door.} 

Mrs.  Page. 
Alas !     I  am  exhausted  quite  ; 
Forever  you  are  shamed,  undone  ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 
How  so,   how  so,  fairGrOssip  Page? 

Mrs.  Page. 
Your  husband's  in  a  furious  rage ! 
O  save  yourself!     His  wrath  assuage  ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Speak  louder  I —  [Aside.] 

Ah  !    How  unfortunate  !  —  [Aloud.] 

Mrs.   Page. 
He  storms,  and  swears  he's  certain  quite 
A  mans'  concealed  within  the  house ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 
What  shall  I  do  ?     I  sink  with  fright ! 

r  Mrs.  Page. 

Unhappy  one  !  then  it  is  true  ? 

Mrs.  Ford. 
Alas,  it  is ! 
Speak  louder,  do  !  —  [Aside.] 

Mrs.  Page. 
You  both  are  lost !    My  blood  congeals  ! 
Half  Windsor  follows  at  his  heels ; 
And  if  he  finds  your  lover  here, 
He'll  kill  him  sure  ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 
I'll  die  with  fear  ! 

Mrs.  Page. 
A  basket,  see  !     Though  'tis  not  deep, 
Within  it  let  your  lover  creep  ; 
If  not,  his  life's  not  worth  a  fig ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 
In  there  ?     Alas,  he's  much  too  big ! 

Falstaff. 
Let's  see  the  thing,  I'll  in  !     Be  quick  ! 


Mrs.  Page, 
What's  this?     Sir  John? 

Falstaff, 
Yes,  pretty  chick ! 

Mrs.  Page. 
'Tis  you  that  wrote  my  billet-doux  f 

Falstaff. 
Yes,  yes,  'tis  I !     I  love  you  too  ! 
And  gladly  I  will  be  your  knight 
If  I  escape  this  sorry  plight ! 

Mrs.  Ford, 
Be  quick !     Be  quick  ! 

Falstaff, 
Sweet  Mistress  Ford ! 

Mrs.  Page, 
Be  quick !     Be  quick  ! 

Falstaff, 
Sweet  Mistress  Page ! 

Both  Women, 
Get  in  !     Get  in  ! 


I  love  you  both  ! 


Falstaff. 


Both   Women. 
Now,  greasy  pudding,  bon  voyage  ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 
Ho,  servants  !     Now,  give  careful  heed. 
This  basket  take  to  Datchet  mead.     [Aside.] 
Unload  it  in  the  muddy  ditch ! 

[Enter  Ford,  Page,  Caius,  Slender,  and  Citizens.] 

Ford. 
Come  in  !     Come  in  !     Come  all  and  see  ! 
Each  one  of  you  shall  witness  be. 

[  To  the  servants^ 

Ho,  rascals,  stop!    What  have  you  there? 

Mrs,  Ford, 
Away  the  washing  quickly  bear ! 
What  ails  you,  meddling,  jealous  fool? 
Would  you  the  household  laundry  rule  ? 

Ford, 
Ha  !  false  one,  you  are  caught  at  last ; 
The  time  for  simulation's  past ! 


14                                   1HI£    MUKHI      WIV 

^  j>    ur     yyjixjJCi  uk. 

Mrs,  JFord, 

Mrs.  Ford, 

Ah,  dearest  husband ! 

Yet  this  alone  will  not  suffice  ; 

We  must  contrive  again  to  trick  him. 

Ford. 

Viper!     Go! 

Mrs.  Page, 

Page, 

Let  us  again  the  knight  entice, 

{To  Ford. y 

And  with  our  wit  to-morrow  prick  him. 

Come,  be  content. 

Both. 

Catus, 

Horreur  I 

'Tis  thus  a  wife  can  play  a  game. 

And  yet  preserve  an  honest  name. 

Page, 

Not  so. 

[Enter  the  men.} 

Here  are  the  keys  ;  now  come  with  me, 

Mrs.  Ford, 

[Aside.} 
They're  from  the  hunt  returning. 

Within  tliis  house  the  man  must  be  ! 

Caius, 

Though  nothing  have  they  caught. 

P  est  jaloux  furieusement  I 

Mrs,  Page, 

Slender, 

All  consolation  spurning. 

Sit  down  with  grief  distraught ! 

O  sweetest  Anna ! 

Ford, 

Mrs,  Pord, 

Nil  ? 

Husband  mine  — 

The  Men. 

mil 

The  Others, 

Mrs.  Page. 

[To  Mrs.  Ford:} 

Good  neighbor  Ford,  now  be  content ! 

Pray  tell  me,  what  has  grieved  you  ? 

y                                         Chorus, 

Mrs.  Ford. 

His  heart  with  jealousy  is  rent. 

With  grief  and  shame  I'll  die  ! 

Ford, 

Mrs.  Page. 

[To  For  d^ 

In  intrigues  woman's  time  is  spent, 

How  dare,  who  ne'er  deceived  you. 

Her  lord's  dishonor  to  augment ! 

You  shamelessly  belie. 

Her  innocence  defame  ? 

\Exit  all  but  Mrs.  Ford  and  Mrs.  Page^ 

All. 

Mrs.  Ford  and  Mrs,  Page. 

Oh  shame  !     Oh  shame  !     Oh  shame  I 

Ha,  ha,  ha,  ha ! 

This  is,  indeed,  a  royal  joke ! 

Mrs.  Ford, 

Go,  peep  into  each  crack  and  cranny ! 

J,  WM  ¥  tj  •       -*.     \^  r    i**  • 

Alas  I  those  days  are  faded. 

' 

Since  first  my  love  he  won ! 

Mrs,  Ford. 

No  grief  my  joy  then  shaded. 

Our  gallant  knight  is  put  to  soak  I 

His  heart  was  mine  alone. 

Now  blinded  by  his  fury 

Mrs.  Page, 

There's  naught  but  pain  and  grief, 

His  jealous  rage  will  surely 

And  neighbor  Ford  must  feel  uncanny  ? 

Torment  his  wife  to  death  ! 

THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF   WINDSOR, 


15 


Maggiore. 


Ford. 


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Mrs.  Page. 


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trace     .    .    of    him     I     find; 


The      dev    -    -        il,   still  pre  -  vail 


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THE  MERRT  WIVES   OE    WINDSOR. 


Mrs.  Ford. 


-S4-*- 


^^^^t=t^^ 


Mrs.  Page. 


Drive   hus    -     bands  down  to  death. 


1^ 


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ly,  Drive  hus    -    bands  down  to  death ! 


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These    faith    -     less  wo-men  sure 


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T^e   Others, 

All  search  is  unavailing, 

No  trace  of  him  we  find  ; 
His  jealousy  prevailing 

Destroys  his  peace  of  mind  ! 
Observe,  his  idle  fury 

Brings  only  pain  and  grief, 
His  jealous  rage  will  surely 
Torment  his  wife  to  death  ! 

Foi'd. 

Forgive.     A  letter  told  me,  dear, 
I'd  surely  find  John  Falstaff  here  ! 

Mrs.  Eord. 

Ungrateful  man  !     The  die.  is  cast. 

No  time  for  reparation. 
All  Windsor  town  shall  know  at  last 
My  sufferinge  here,  my  sorrows  vast; 

I  '11  seek  a  separation  ! 

Eord, 

'Twas  that  confounded  letter  cast 

Us  into  desolation  ; 
But  cease  your  cries  or  else,  at  last 
All  Windsor  town  will  stand  aghast, 

At  your  vituperation ! 


All   Others. 

O  shame  !  O  shame  !  such  blame  to  cast, 

Such  wicked  condemnation  ! 
All  Windsor  town  shall  know  at  last. 
Her  sufterings  here,  her  sorrows  vast, 

Her  righteous  separation ! 


ACT    II. 

Scene  I. — A   Room   in   the    Garter  Iiin.      Falstaff, 
Waiter. 

Ealstaff. 
Waiter !  Here  waiter,  I  say.   Is  no  one  in  ? 

Waiter. 
What  is  your  worship's  wish  ? 

Ealstaff. 

How  can  you  ask.''     Quick,  fetch  me  a 
quart  of  sack ! 

Waiter. 
At  once,  Sir  John  ! 

\_Hurries  off  and  returns  in  a  moment  with  a  jug  of 
sack.     Then  exit.} 


THE  MERRT   WIVES   OF   WINDSOR, 


n 


Ealstaff. 

Have  I  lived  to  be  carried  in  a  basket, 
like  a  barrow  of  butcher's  offal,  and  to  be 
thrown  into  the  Thames?  Well,  if  I  be 
served  such  another  trick,  I'll  have  my 
brains  ta'en  out  and  buttered  and  give  them 
to  a  dog  for  a  New-Year's  gift.  The 
rogues  slighted  me  into  the  river  with  as 
little  remorse  as  they  would  have  drowned 
a  bitch's  blind  puppies,  fifteen  in  the  litter. 
And  you  may  know  by  my  size  that  I  have 
a  kind  of  alacrity  in  sinking —  if  the  bottom 
were  as  deep  as  hell  I  should  down.  I 
had  been  drowned,  but  that  the  shore  was 
shelvy  and  shallow  —  a  death  that  I  abhor  ; 
for  the  water  swells  a  man,  and  what  a 
thing  should  I  have  been,  when  I  had 
been  swelled  !  I  should  have  been  a  moun- 
tain of  mummy ! 

[Reaching  for  the  jug^ 

Come,  old  friend,  bring  me  surcease  of  the 
terrible  recollection  ! 

\Drink5:\ 

But  what  now?  I  must  invent,  plot,  plan. 
My  fortune  must  be  bettered !  It  might 
have  gone  well  with  yon  dainty  women. 
Their  husbands  are  rich,  and  I  would  have 
used  them  as  the  keys  to  the  cuckoldy 
knaves'  coffers.     But  now?  — 


Waiter. 

[Bringing  a  letter.l 

A  letter,  Sir  John,  but  this  moment  left 
here  by  a  woman. 


Give  it  here. 


Falstaff, 


[Opens  the  letter  ;  the  waiter  filled  with  curiosity 
stands  by  until  driven  away.} 

Ah  !  from  Mistress  Ford  ! 

[Angrily.] 

I'll  have  no  more  Ford.  I  have  had  ford 
enough,  I  was  thrown  into  the  ford ;  I 
have  my  belly  full  of  ford!  But  let  us 
see:  — 

[Reads.] 

''  I  am  inconsolable  over  yesterday's  mis- 
adventures. But  hold  your  peace  and  come 
again  to-day !  At  nine  of  the  clock  my 
husband  goes  a-birding,  and  then  —  " 

[In  ecstacy.] 


How  now !  Sayest  thou  so,  old  Jack?  Go 
thy  ways !  Will  they  yet  look  after  thee? 
I'll  make  more  of  thy  old  body  than  I  have 
done.     The  women  shall  yet  fill  my  purse  ! 

Scene  II.  —  Falstaff^  Citizens^  Waiters^  Musicians. 


Citizens. 
What  ho  !     Sack  !     Robert ! 


[Without.] 


[Enter  Citizens,  some  carrying  cross-bows^  bird 
nets,  and  other  hunting  apparatus.] 


First   Citizen. 
Bestir  yourself;  bring  me  a  cup  of  sack  I 

Waiter. 
At  once,  gentlemen ! 

Falstaff. 
Ho,  Robert,  a  fresh  pottle  for  me ! 

First  Citizen. 

[To  the  other:] 

Ah,  yonder  sits  fat  Sir  John  Falstaff,  for 
whose  sake  Ford  yesterday  made  such  un- 
necessary alarum.     Let  us  speak  to  him. 

[Stepping  up  to  Falstaff.] 

Ah,  Sir  knight,  I'm  pleased  to  see  you  well ! 

Falstaff. 

The  pleasure  is  mutual !  Ecod,  but  ye 
are  generously  accoutred.  Whither  away 
so  early? 

First  Citizen. 
We  go  a-birding. 

Falstaff. 

Indeed  !  Then  imprimis  clear  your  eyes 
with  a  cup  of  good  sack.  Right,  brave 
hearts,  'tis  drinking  makes  the  world  go 
round  !     Success  attend  you  ! 

[Lifting  his  ;ug.\ 

First  and  Second  Citizens. 

[Grasping  their  (ups.l 

Your  good  health,  Sir  John ! 


i8 


THE  MERRT  WIVES  OF    WINDSOR. 


Falstaff, 
Bravo  !     Well  emptied  cockchafers  ! 

[  Contemptuously  !\ 
Why  you've  nut-shells  for  drinking  cups  ! 

First  Citizen, 
Indeed  !     I'll  drink  as  much  as  he  ! 

Second  Citizen, 
And  I,  I'll  vv^ager, 

Falstaff, 
Say  you  so  ? 

\Arising^ 
Come,  a  tilt ;  vs^ho  drinks  the  most  is  acquit 
of  the  account. 

The  Citizens, 
Agreed. 

Falstaff. 

[Aside.] 
Rash  fools  !     How^  they'll  regret  it ! 

[A/oud.] 
Fall  to't:  Take  the  jug  as  I  do,  and  empty 
it  at  a  draught !     Long  live  good  sack  ! 

Andante  comodo. 
Falstaff.^ 


All. 


Live  sack ! 


[The  two  Citizens  drink  from  the  Jugs  ^  the  others 
from  cups.  Falstaff  and  the  two  empty  their 
jugs  in  a  single  long  draughty  and  then  tap 
their  thumbnails  with  the  rim  to  show  that  the 
vessels  are  empty.  Waiters  stand  ready  with 
fresh  jugs.]  '^ 

Falstaff. 

Bravo !  A  right  tolerable  draught,  if 
'twill  but  endure.  We  shall  see.  You  w^ill 
try't  again  ? 

First  Citizen. 

[Aside  to  the  Second."] 


Can  you  ? 


I  will  try. 


Second  Citizen. 


First  Citizen. 


Yes,  yes,  we'll  try't  again. 


[Dubiously^ 


[  To  Falstaff:] 


Falstaf. 

Then  to  the  second  trial ! 

[Exchanging  the  empty  jugs  for  freshly  filed  ones.] 

But  now  a  merry  song  to  give  us  the  metre 
for  drinking. 


p^^i^^^B^^ 


Se^ 


SJ 


ii 


While  yet        a      child     on    my  moth  -  er's  breast,  With  heigh  ho,    the  wind  and  the 


-# •- 


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Andantino, 


:  Ki?^ 


V     V      >^— 


rail,  o 


l^l^^^^g^^^S 


rain,    I  drank  e'en  then  good  sack  with  zest.  For  the    rain      it    rain-eth    ev  -  e  -  ry  day,  Come, 


1  ,        .  a  tempo. 


col  canto. 


a 3  p^  a  ^     -0- 


THE   MERRT   WIVES    OF    WINDSOR, 


19 


rail. 


a  tempo. 


^g^^E^^^^gilElEgEM^ig^ 


it 


taw-ny  Ann,  come  here,  Bring    me  the  pitcher,      dear,  Fi  11   up    this  tank  1      Come,  flood  this 


■^ — V-:— N 


^S^i^=iEia^S^^ 


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rail. 


^^,  Adagio. 


m 


throat's  fierce  flame,  Drink-ing    can     ne'er    bring  8hame,God    Bac   -  chus    drank,  God     Bac-chus   drank! 


f  Fai 


Falstaff. 


^? — ^^ — n — n — ^ 


sempre  a  tempo.  ^    Jl 


F=t 


E 


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i 


Rea  -  dy,  stand  al  -  lied  ? 
Tenor.  ff 


Throats  dis  -  tend-ed  wide 


One —  two — and  three. 


5f^2=s: 


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rtf 


Chorus  of  Burghers.  Al-lied, 

Bass.  ff 


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Wide! 

(22 


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i 


Allegro  confuoco. 


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20 


THE  MERRY   WIVES   OF   WINDSOR, 


Chorus. 

Three !  Bravo ! 
They  bore  one  from  the  revel's  height, 
Good  w^ine  had  overthrow^!!  him  quite. 
God  Bacchus  granted  him  sweet  rest. 
Sleep,  toper,  none  will  you  molest ! 

\_After  the  first  verse  is  sung  they  all  drink,  reverse 
their  jugs,  and  hand  them  to  the  waiters.  The 
second  citizen  cannot  finish  the  draught;  he  reelsy 
drops  the  Jug,  and  calls  out ;] 

No  more  —  for  me  ! 

Falstaff. 

What 's  this  ?  Vanquished  so  soon  ? 
Alas,  poor  varlet,  thy  stomach  lacks  the 
valor  of  thy  will.  Come,  bear  him  out,  and 
put  him  to  rest  upon  the  green  lap  of  our 
common  mothei". 

\_They  carry  him  out  while  singing.      To  the  first 
Citizen :  ] 

And  how  goes  the  bout  with  you  ?  Me- 
thinks  there  is  an  Unsteadiness  also  in  your 
gait.     Art  with  me  again,  brave  toper  .f* 

First  Citizen. 

{Hilariously?^ 

Have  at  you  1 

Falstaff. 

Spoken  like  a  Trojan.  Come,  another 
jug!  I  hope  you  will  stand  up  long,  for 
hark  you,  within  here 

{Slapping  his  paunch^ 
lies  room  for  many  jugs. 

{Both  have  taken  fresh  jugs.    Falstafif  sings. 1 

And  when  I  'd  cast  off  all  my  childish  ways. 

With  heigh-ho  the  wind  and  the  rain  ! 
The   maidens  all  coyly  withdrew  from  my 


Ch 


orus. 


Wide! 


For  the  rain  it  raineth  every  day. 
Have  you  an  empty  purse, 
Or  is  the  tap  perverse  — 

Out  with  the  dice  ! 
Fortune  's  a  fickle  jade. 
Be  bold  and  seize  the  maid, 

Quick  !     In  a  trice  ! 
Ready,  stand  allied  — 


gaze 


Chorus. 

Falstaff. 
Throats  distended  wide  — 


Allied ! 


Keep  still ! 


Falstaff. 
One  —  two  —  and  — 

Chorus. 

Three!  Bravo! 

{At  the  end  of  the  second  verse  the  first  citizen  joins , 
in  the  singing.'i 

Fourth  Citizen. 

{Restraining  his  companion^ 

Falstaff. 

Fellow,  you  sing  as  unmelodiously  as  a 
raven.     Try  at  least  to  keep  ;n  time. 

{After    they  have  drunk  Falstaff"  takes  dice  -out  of  his 
pocket,  and  making  a  throw  cries  out :  ] 

A  royal  throw.  Look  lads,  who  will 
match  it  for  six  pence  ? 

First  Citizen. 

{Reeling,  but  still  merry ^ 
I— I  — I'll— match  — 

{Seizing  the  dice-box.] 
now  —  see  —  there  —  are  — 

{Falls  across  the  table.] 

Falstaff. 

{Laughing.] 
Aye,  there  you  are !     Remove  from   my 
sight  these  monuments  of  intemperance  and 
debauchery  I 

{The  first  citizen  is  carried  out.] 

But  do  not  forget  that  he  owes  me  fifteen 
pence  —  gambling  debts  are  debts  of  honor. 

Fourth  Citizen. 
Long  live  Sir  John  ! 

All. 
Long  live  Sir  John. 

Fourth  Citizen. 

But  now  we  must  away,  or  we'll  be  too 
late  for  the  hunt. 

All. 
Yes,  yes,  away  to  the  hunt. 

Falstaff. 

Scurvy  knaves  !  Penny-throated  pigmies 
drinking  with  Polyphemus  Jack !  Would 
it  were  time  to  go  to  Mistress  Ford ! 


I 


THE  MERRT   WIVES  OF    WINDSOR, 


21 


Scene  hi. —  Falstaff,  Waiter. 

Waiter. 

Sir  John,  there's  a  gentleman  would  speak 
with  you,  and  hath  sent  your  worship  a 
morning's  draught  of  sack. 


Falstaff. 


His  name,  fellow ! 

Waiter. 

He    says    he  is    one    Master   Brook,  and 
would  be  acquainted  with  you. 

Falstaff. 

Call  him   in.     Such  Brooks  are  welcome 
to  me  that  o'erflow  such  liquor. 

Scene  IV.  —  Ford  disguised  as  Brook.    Falstaff. 

Ford. 
God  bless  you,  sir! 
A  privilege  most  rare,  the  valiant, 
The  world-renowned  soldier,  John  Falstaff, 


Falstaff. 
'Ah,  Sir,  you  flatter  !   (A  delightful  fellow  !) 

Ford. 


^i 


Your  pardon  first  I  beg  you'll  grant. 
And   in    a    morning    draught  of  sack  then 

join  me. 

Falstaff. 

!     By   your    leave   we'll   to   the   tipple 

straight. 

Ford. 
With  all  my  heart ! 

Both. 
Here's  to  your  good  health  ! 

Falstaff. 

Superb,  Sir !     But  your  name  I  now  must 

ask, 
And  what  brings  you  to  me  ! 

Ford. 

My  name  is  Brook,  and  I'm  a  man 
Who's  spent  much  of  his  wealth. 


Falstaff. 

In   this,  good   Master  Brook,   you've  done 

as  I  have  done. 

^  Ford. 

Yet,  brave  Sir  John,  I've  still  a  handsome 

income 
Of  which  I'd  spend  a  share  to   advance  an 

undertaking. 
Concerning   which    I'd    humbly    ask    your 

counsel. 

Falstaff. 
And  can  I  serve  you  } 

Ford. 

Yes,  indeed.     On  you,  who've  been  famous 

As  a  gallant  cavalier,  who  is 

Adored  by  all  the  fair,  I  venture  to  in- 
trude. 

Now  to  the  point  :  Know  that  I  am  in  love 

With  a  certain  Mistress  Ford,  and  I  must 

have  the  lady. 

Though  the  attempt  should  cost  my  life. 


Falstaff. 

[Aside.] 

Ha !      By   my   valor !     My    interest   grows 

apace. 

On  my  preserves  he's  poaching ! 

[To  Ford.] 

I   know  her  well ;    a   sweet  and   charming 

lady. 


Ford. 


You  imp  of  hell ! 


[Aside?i 
[To  Falstaff:] 


But  she  is  closely  watched 

By  a  most  jealous  rascal,  her  husband. 

Know  you  this  Ford  } 

Falstaff. 

In  sooth  I  know  him  not. 

But  from  all  sides  I  hear  that  he's  a  jealous, 

scurvy  knave, 
Though  rich  in  this  world's  goods. 


Ford. 
A  plague  upon  this  wretch  ! 


[Aside:] 
[To  Falstaff \ 


My  good  Sir  John, 

Now  since  the  lady  fair  my  love  declines. 
Do  you  lay  siege  to  her  heart  in  my  stead. 
You  are  a  gallant  with  puissant  graces 
'Gainst  whom  no  woman  can  steel  her  heart. 


22 


THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF    WINDSOR, 


Falstaff, 
You  praise  me  past  my  due ! 

Ford,  [Aside.] 

Not  for  your  knavery  ! 

[ToFahtaf.] 
I  have  a  bag  of  money  here  that  troubles  me, 

It  may  serve  a  good  turn,  so  kindly 
Relieve  me  of  the  w^hole  or  a  portion  of  it. 


Falstaff.  [Aside.] 

Ye  gods  !     What  arrant  ass  is  this  ! 

[to  Ford] 
Good  Brook,  you  are  most  hap'ly  met, 
Fair    Mistress    Ford    for    you    I'll    surely 

conquer. 

Ford. 
Ah,  indeed  !  That  would  be  simply  glorious  ! 

Falstaff. 

But  tell  me  how  'twould  profit  you, 
If  I  should  win  your  suit.'' 

Ford. 

That's  very  simple  —  Thus  : 

She  dwells  securely  ever  on  her  honor ; 
Now  could  I  once  confront  her. 
With  evidence  of  some  sort  compromising, 
I'd  win  her  ear,  and  then  my  wishes  urge. 

Falstaff. 

Is  this  all  that  you  ask? 
I'll  help  you  to  it  straight. 


Ford. 
I  shall  go  mad  with  rage ! 

How  so  }    Your  plan  unfold. 


[Aside.] 
[To  Falstaff.] 


Falstaff. 

Ha,  ha,  ha,  ha !     To  you  I  may  confess  it. 
Now  list :  With  her  I've  had,  for  quite  a 

period, 
A  most  enjoyable  flirtation  ! 


Ford. 


Cursed  hell-hound ! 


[Aside.] 


Falstaff. 


What  say  you,  sir? 


Ford. 

I  said  —  I   said  your  story  holds  me  spell- 
bound ; 
With  joy  I  am  beside  myself — 
But  pray  continue. 

Falstaff, 

It  v/as  but  yesterday  I'd   an   appointment 

with  her. 
But  in  the  instant  of  our  encounter 
Her  spouse,  this  Master  Ford,  the  fool. 
Comes  me  in  in  a  furious  rage. 
And  at  his  heels  a  motley  rabble  — 
How  the  devil  he  had  got  wind  of  our  design 
I  know  not.     Enough  he  came  and  fumed. 
And  raged  and  tore  about  like  mad. 

Ford. 
While  you  were  present? 

Falstaff. 

Most  truly.     But  luckily 
A  neighbor,  Mistress  Page,  comes  in. 
And  gives  intelligence  of  Ford's  approach. 
Ingenious  women  !     They're  quick  in  theif 

devices. 
And  they  conveyed  me  into  — 


Ford. 


What? 


Falstaff. 
—  into  a  great  buck  basket ! 

Ford, 
In  a  buck  basket? 

Falstaff, 

Master  Brook,  just  think  of  that ! 
This  great  hulking  mass  of  fat. 
Crowded  down,  the  basket  creaking, 
Under  dirty  linen  reeking. 
And  then  thrown,  while  hissing  hot, 
Into  Thames's  vilest  spot ! 

Ford, 

Really,  that  was  quite  too  bad, 
Your  recital  makes  me  sad  ; 
You  deserve  commiseration 
For  such  suffering  and  privation. 


THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF    WINDSOR, 


23 


Met,  Instead  of  love's  reward, 
In  your  quest  of  Mistress  Ford. 
Then  I  fancy  that  the  drenching 
Tended  to  your  ardor's  quenching? 

Falstaff. 

Somewhat ;  yet  if  I'd  a  mind 
I  to-day  might  surcease  find. 

Ford, 

(Lecher!     Villain!     Patience!     Wait!) 
What  ?     So  quickly  you  could  mate  ? 


Falstaff. 

Yes  !     One  never  fears  a  scorning 

When  he's  popular  as  I, 
I've  a  summons  for  this  morning 

If  my  luck  I  wish  to  try. 
Master  Ford  then  for  his  pleasure 

Hunting  goes  in  quest  of  game  ; 
Women  stick  at  no  half  measure. 

Once  they  feel  love's  ardent  flame. 

Allegro  moderato  assia, 
Falstaff.     sempre.  p 


g^ 


Itzfzzil?— 


I^f: 


1^: 


Ford. 
Well,  of  course  you'll  go.  Sir  John  } 

Falstaff. 
For  your  sake  I'll  try  it  on. 

Ford. 

(Many  thanks,  my  worthy  knight, 
You  shall  this  to  me  requite !) 

Falstaff. 

The  appointed  hour  is  come 

Which  she's  filled  with  expectation. 

Ford. 

You  will  meet  with  approbation, 
Promised  pleasures  make  me  dumb  ! 

Both. 

Blissful  promise  !     O  what  rapture  ! 
Haste  now  to  the  rendezvous ! 


-^-^ 


:U=U: 


^— f 


:tz=^ 


7^^=^ — v-zji=:zjit==^ 


a 


t=^ 


What     joy  is    this  1  What  joy  is    this!  My     bo-som  swells  with  rap  -  ture  !  Our  plan  is    sure  -  ly 


I? 


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sempre,  p  - 


^ 


rg; 


I    I    I-J-. 


3^3 


t=i=±\ 


Fed. 


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not    a  -  miss,  The  fair  one  we  will  cap  -  ture,  And  her  poor    hus  -  band,    stu  -  pid    brute,  We'll 


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24 


THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF    WINDSOR, 


Ford.  ^T^^P 


^, 


rail. 


%-^ 


:«» 


a  tempo. 


Ah!  What 


■  ^_ 


^ ^— k- 


fl-fl 


V—  V — k — V — ^- 


-=^-=1- 


most  in  -  ge-nious  -  ly     cor-nute ! 


Ah,   ah,   ah,    ah,    ah,    ah, 


i^ali^ili^i^^i 


i»=:^zzi^z 


|i=^N=P=N: 


-t 


-f:! 


Perf.   .     * 


rail. 
Fed.  . 


K=igEiEE-;^sl 


rw/*  a  tempo. 

* 


P 


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sempre 


9; 


•— • -fv 


^=F= 


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Mziji — ^ — \^s 


:.=fe^ 


joy  is  this !  What  joy    is    this !   My    bo-som  swells  with    rap  -  ture,  The  plan      is       sure  -  ly 


-S-    ,  -•-   -. 


senipre.  p 


9i 


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m-    -0- 


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Fed.     * 


Fed. 


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not    a  -  miss,    To  -  day  the  wretch  I'll    cap  -  ture,    My  vengeance    I'll    then  ex  -  e  -  cute,  And 


^_J ^-r-P^ 


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THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF    WINDSOR, 


35 


dolce^ 


^ 


:Sr 


a  temjw. 

rail.  5--""^      ^ 

-p 1 1 — 

±——m V •^- 


V ^ y ^- ^- 


flog     the      vil  -  lain      dis   -    so  -    lute 


Ah,   ah,   ah,    ah     ah, 
-•-     -•-     -•-     -•-     -•- 


V '^ >> '^ — 


Ah,   ah,   ah,    ah,    ah, 


i 


w- 


3: 


293jiS: 


9t 


Fed.       * 

— r— 


^    PetZ.     ra//.    ^  *  p 


f: 


gi^ 


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»z=i::*^.>^ 


:i^;^^ 


ah.  What        joy  is      this !  What    joy     is       this !    My  bo   -  som  swells   with    rap   -  ture !  Our 


■M^iL 


-M^^ 


ah,  What        joy  is      this !  What    joy     is       this !    My  bo   -  som  swells  with    rap   -  ture  !  Our 


^, 


plan     is      sure  -   ly         not        a  -  miss, 


day      the  wretch    I'll         cap    -      ture,     Our 
— iv — f • s fif- 


i 


plan      is      sure  -   ly         not      a  -    miss, 
a  tempo. 

X  -k-  X     ^.      ' 

-4= — * 1- — k- 


The       fair      one      we      will 
affretto  e  cresc. 


cap 


tt^- 


ture,    Our 


pPed.  rail. 
7—^- 


Fed. 


r 


=^=i- 


f=^ 


r 


Fed. 


%  Ji       Fed.. ft.    .-.      V 


26 


THE    MERRT    WIVES    OF    WINDSOR, 


f  Allegro. 


^-      -#- 


S?i 


I 


plan       is         sure  -    ly  not       a  -  miss,   To    -    day     the  wretch   I'll       cap  -  ture. 


-^       ^ 


95 


:f^ tr^: 


plan       is 


sure  -    ly 


-A— tr ^ V k r^—A 


not       a  -  miss,  The      fair      one      we      will       cap  -  ture. 


^^P^H^i 


Pec^, 


.   *  Pe<i. 


Ford. 

(What  joy  Is  this  !     What  joy  is  this ! 

My  bosom  swells  with  rapture, 
The  plan  is  surely  not  amiss, 

To-day  the  wretch  I'll  capture, 
My  vengeance  I'll  then  execute. 
And  fldg  the  villain  dissolute  !) 
Farewell,  Sir  !     (I'll  flog  the  villain  well !) 

Falstaff, 
Farewell,  Sir  !      (The  arrant  imbecile  !) 


Scene  V. 
Page, 


A  Garden.   Slender,  CaiuSy  Fenton,  Anne, 


Slender, 


This  is  the  hour  she  often  spares 

To  walk  among  the  flowers ; 
Perhaps  I'll  take  her  unawares 

By  waiting  in  the  bowers  — 
O  sweetest  Anna  ! 

No  ;  in  sooth  I'll  wait  no  longer, 
To-day  I  will  her  heart  invest. 

Now,  courage,  Slender,  cogitate, 
Oh,  beat  not  thus,  my  heart ! 

She'll  not  remain  long  obdurate, 
Nor  long  such  pain  impart. 

Some  one  is  coming  — 
Perhaps  'tis  she  ! 

Now  courage  !    Oh  heavens !    He  ! 
Be  quick,  hush,  hush! 

I'll  hide  behind  this  shelt'ring  bush  ! 


Calus. 
Zis  ees  ze  hour  ven  belle  Mees  Page 

Walk  out  parmi  les  Jleurs, 
It  may  be  zat  I  sail  manage 

To  see  here  sans  rumeur. 
Zen  sail  I  till  her  de  fua  fropre  bouche  — 

Slender, 

What's  that  ?     ' '  The  bush  !  "     Alas  !     I  am 

found  out ! 

Cuius. 

Zen  sail  I  till  her  :  Belle  Mees  Page, 

I  love  you  vary  much  ; 
Vare's  my  rival,  I'll  heem  engage, 

I'll  keel  heem  par  honneur  ! 
Par  example  ce  mi^rable  Slendare ! 

Vare  ees  he  hide.'* 
I  vant  to  speet  him,  ce  old  offendare  I 

Et  ce  gaillard  de  Fenton, 
I'll  keel  him  too  ! 

Fen  ton. 

{Behind  the  scenes.] 

Hark  !     The  lark  sings  in  the  grove  — 

Calus. 

Ciell  qu'entends-je  f 
Monsieur  Fenton  ees  at  hand. 
So  aside  I'll  quickly  stand. 


Fenton, 

ark  !     The  lark  sings  in  the  grove, 
Listen,  listen,  sweet! 


THE  MERRY  WIVES   OF  WINDSOR, 


27 


Throw  thy  casement  open,  love, 

Hear  his  notes  entreat ! 
Clear  the  meaning  that  his  lay 
Doth  to  loving  hearts  betray  ! 

Listen  to  his  dulcet  air 

As  it  upward  to  thee  steals, 

Ask  not  what  his  notes  declare, 
What  his  melody  reveals, 

Clear  the  meaning  that  his  lay, 

Doth  to  loving  hearts  betray  ! 

Slender. 

Spare  your  idle  roundelay, 
Anna  '11  never  say  me  nay ! 

Caius. 

Tiens  I     I  almost  had  my  prey, 
Zis  young  man  I  surely  slay  ! 


Fenton,  Anne,  Page- 

Fenton, 
My  dearest !    Yet  what  mean  these  tears  ? 


Ah  !  cruel  fate  !     I'm  broken-hearted, 
My  father's  pledge,  my  mother's  wish, 
Will  keep  us  ever  parted  ! 


Fenton. 


And  you? 


Anne, 
Alas,  I  have  no  option ! 

Fenton, 

Ah,  can  you  discard  me  thus? 

Alas,  you  love  me  not  I 

How  shall  I  bear  such  sorrow  ! 

Anne, 

Can  you  doubt  me  ?     Can  you  question  ? 

Know  you  not  this  heart  of  mine? 
Must  I  ever  keep  repeating 

That  forever  I  am  thine? 
Mother's  prayers  can  move  me  never, 

Father's  threats  away  are  thrown, 
Yours  will  I  remain  forever 

Only  you  my  heart  shall  own ! 


Fenton. 

Oh,  forgive  my  heart's  despairing, 

Hence  all  doubt  and  idle  fear  I 
Oh,  what  bliss,  what  joy  in  hearing. 

That  to  you  I  am  so  dear  ! 
God  nor  man  shall  part  us  ever. 

This  my  arm,  shall  set  you  free. 
Mine  your  heart  remains  forever. 

Mine  alone  henceforth  you'll  be  ! 

Anne,  Page,  Fenton,  Slender,  Caius. 

Fenton. 

Are  you  still  subject  to  intrusion 

From  those  who'd  you  in  marriage  own  ? 


•Alas !     Ah,  yes 


Anne. 


Fenton. 


The  stupid  Slender,  with  his  eternalfO 
sweetest  Anna ! " 

Slender. 

O  confusion ! 
What  is  it  that  he  says  of  me  ? 

Fenton. 
And  then  that  idiotic  Frenchman? 

Anne. 
He  'tis  who  is  my  mother's  choice ! 

Cuius. 

Je  crois  entendre  quelque  chose  — 
Mafoi^  I  certainly  must  keel  ce  traitre  ! 

Fenton. 

Against  two  rivals  such  as  these 
The  lists  I'll  enter  quite  at  ease  ! 

Anne  and  Fenton. 

Patience,  wait !     All  is  well ! 
Till  the  hour  of  blissful  waking. 
Faithful  love  will  never  us  be  quite  forsaking. 
Sorrow  now  dispel  I 

Slender. 

Ah,  what  grief!     Hear  the  knell ! 

My  sad  heart  is  nearly  breaking ; 

Sweetest  Anna,  are  you  thus  your  love 

forsaking  ? 
Gone  is  hope's  fond  spell ! 


38 


THE    MERRT    WIVES    OF     WINDSOR. 


Caius. 

Sacre  Dieu  I     'Tis  not  well ! 

Ce  Monsieur  I'll  give  a  shaking, 

Sans  pardo7z  I  sail  hees  neck  be  breaking, 

All  hees  breath  expel ! 

Caius. 

I  will  overtake  heem  and  knog  a  shallenge 
about  his  knave's  ears  ! 

Slender. 

[Creeping  out  from  his  place  of  concealment  and 
running  against  Caius ^ 

Caius. 
Ah !     Vat    ce  devil !     Vat   you  do  here. 
Monsieur  Slendare  ?      Ce  herring  is  no  dead 
so  as  I  vill  kill  you. 


Slender. 


O  sweetest  Anna 


[Running  awajy.] 


Caius. 

[Running  after  Aim.] 
If  I  catch  you  once  more  in   the  gardin 
of  Mees  Page,  mort  de  ma  vie !  I  vill  cut-a 
off  your  ears — par  tous  les  diablesl 


Scene  VI .  — A  Room  in  Forcfs  House. 
and  Mistress  Ford. 


EnterFalstaff 


Falstaff. 

Mistress  Ford,  your  sorrow  has  eaten  up 
my  sufferance  ;  I  see  you  are  obsequious  in 
your  love,  and  I  profess  requital  to  a  hair's 
breadth,  not  only.  Mistress  Ford,  in  the 
simple  office  of  love,  but  in  all  the  accoutre- 
ment, complement,  and  ceremony  of  it. 
But  are  you  sure  of  your  husband  now? 

Mrs.  Ford. 
He's  a-birding,  sweet  Sir  John 

Falstaff. 
Then  is  this  the  period  of  my  ambition  ! 

[He  is  about  to  embrace  heri\ 

Mrs.  Page. 

[mtAin.] 
What,  hoa,  gossip  Ford  !     What,  hoa  ' 

Mrs.  Ford. 
Step  into  the  chamber,  Sir  John. 

[Exit  Falstaff.l 


[Enter  Mistress  Rage.] 

Mrs.  Page. 
How   now,  sweetheart?   who's   at   home 
beside  yourself? 

Mrs.  Ford. 
Why,  none  but  mine  own  people. 

Mrs.  Page. 
Indeed  ? 

Mrs.  Ford. 

No,  certainly.  , 

Speak  louder.     [Aside:\ 

Mrs.  Page. 
Truly,  I  am  glad  the  fat  knight  is  not 
here.  Your  husband  is  in  his  old  lunes 
again.  He  swears  the  knight  was  carried 
out,  the  last  time  he  searched  for  him,  in  a 
basket ;  protests  to  my  husband  he  is  now 
here  ;  and  hath  drawn  him  and  the  rest  of 
their  company  from  their  sport,  to  make 
another  experiment  of  his  suspicion. 

Mrs.  Ford. 
I  am  undone  !  —  the  knight  is  here. 

Mrs.  Page. 
Why,  then    you  are  utterly  shamed,  and 
he's  but  a  dead  man.     What  a  woman   are 
you  !     Away  with  him  ;  better  shame  than 
murder. 

Mrs.  Ford. 
Which  way  should  he  go?  how  should  I 
bestow    him?      Shall   I   put   him    into    the 
basket  again  ? 

Re-enter  Falstaff. 

Falstaff. 
No,  I'll  come  no  more  i'  the  basket ;  may 
I  not  go  out  ere  he  come  ? 

Mrs.  Page. 
Impossible.      He'd  meet  you  at  the  door 
and  murder  you. 

Mrs.  Ford. 
How  might  we  disguise  him? 

Mrs.  Page. 
Alas  the  day,  I  know  not.     There   is  no 
woman's  gown  big  enough  for  him  ;  other- 
wise he  might  put  on  a  hat,  a   muffler,  and 
a  kerchief,  and  so  escape. 


THE  MERRT   WIVES   OF   WINDSOR. 


29 


Ealstaff. 
Good  hearts,   devise  something;  any  ex- 
tremity rather  than  a  mischief. 

Mrs.  Ford, 
My  maid's  aunt,  the  fat  woman  of  Brent- 
ford, has  a  gown  above. 

Mrs.  Page. 

On  my  word,  it  will  serve  him  ;  she's  as 
big  as  he  is.     Run  up,  Sir  John. 

Airs.  Ford. 
Go,  go,  sweet  Sir  John. 

iExit  Mrs.  Page  and  Falstaff.l 

Mrs.  Ford. 

I-nvould  my  husband  would  meet  him  in 
this  shape  ;  he  cannot  abide  the  old  woman 
of  Brentford  ;  he  swears  she's  a  witch  ;  for- 
bade her  my  house,  and  hath  threatened  to 
beat  her. 

Enter  Ford. 

[He  enters  cautiously,  wearing  a  rapier;  locks  the 
door  behind  him  and  puts  the  key  in  his  pocket. 1 

Ford. 
Ha  !     A  clever  plan  I've  shaped  me, 

In  the  trap  he'll  surely  fall. 
Though  he  yesterday  escaped  me. 

Through  this  net  he  cannot  crawl ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Has  111  humor  'gain  possessed  you.? 

Falls  again  a  thunder-bolt? 
What  new  lunacies  infest  you.? 

Silly,  jealous-minded  dolt  1 

Ford. 
I  shall  see  if  woman's  scheming  — 

Mrs.  Ford. 

No  more  scenes  I'll  have  unseeming. 
No  more  searching  in  this  place ! 

Ford. 
Dare  you  say  this  to  my  face? 

Faithless  woman  I     Ah,  how  dare  you  ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Bedlam  can  no  longer  spare  you, 
Foolish  madman  I 


Ford, 

Silence,  wife ! 
Cease,  or  I  will  have  your  life  ! 
Wait  a  while,  you  base  deceiver, 

Wait  awhile,  'twill  not  be  long. 
Once  an  innocent  believer, 

Now  shall  I  avenge  a  wrong ! 
You  shall  see,  and  you  shall  rue. 
What  a  righteous  rage  can  do ! 
Tremble,  nor  my  oath  revile  — 

Wait  awhile ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 

• 
Storm  awhile  !     'Tis  a  reliever. 

This  fine  scene,  pray  do  prolong ! 
Ha,  ha,  ha  I  the  mild  believer. 

Master  Ford,  no  one  should  wrong! 
(How  suspicion's  jealous  view 
Can  in  folly  man  imbrew !) 
Thus  do  I  your  oath  revile 

With  a  smile ! 

[Enter  the  servants  with  the  basket^ 

Bravo  !     They  come  most  opportunely  ! 

Ford. 

Stop,  you  rascals,  where  you  are ! 
I'll  look  into  yonder  basket. 
There's  a  plot  and  I'll  unmask  it ! 

Why,  my  dear,  look  so  beseeching? 

Send  you  clothes  again  to  bleaching? 


Most  surely 


Mrs.  Ford. 


Ford. 


Ha  !     A  pretty  state  ! 

Wait,  I'll  bleach  them  for  you  straight ! 

[To  the  ser7,'ants.\ 
What,  stand  you  still  gaping  there  ?     Idiots  ! 
Ah,  yes  !     The  door  I've  stoutly  bolted  ; 
There  !  get  out  of  here  ! 
Now  your  honesty  impeaching, 
I'll  give  your  knight  a  little  bleaching, 
Yes,  I'll  whiten  your  foul  linen  ! 
Come  forth  !  come  forth  I  come  forth  !  You 
wretch  1 

Mrs.  Ford, 

Ha,  ha,  ha  !     The  silly  fool. 
How  can  he  thus  be  folly's  tool? 


30 


THE  MERRY  WIVES   OF    WINDSOR, 


Ford. 

Ford. 

I  know  that  he  is  hidden  here ! 

On  yesterday  you  laughed  at  me, 

Your  dying  breath  prepare  to  fetch, 

To-day  you  shall  be  witnesses 

Vile  pander,  come,  appear  ! 

Of  my  most  awful,  bloody  vengeance  I 

Mrs,  Ford, 

Airs.  Ford. 

Bravo !     Quite   right !      Drive  jiome   your 

Well,  then,  in  heaven's  name ! 

blade  ; 

I  will  withdraw  my  opposition. 

And  make  of  him  a  ghostly  shade  I 

Go,   search  the  house,  pry  wheresoe'er  you 

will 

Ford. 

W  111 . 

Come  you  down,  good   Mistress  Page, 

And  bring  the  old  woman  with  you. 
My  husband  would  the  chamber  search. 

And  yet  I  know  this  is  no  freak, 

Here  yesterday  the  knight  was  hiding. 

He's  in  the'house  !     Where  is  he  ?     Speak  ! 

Ford., 
What  old  woman's  that.? 

I  beg  of  you,  cease  your  deriding. 
I'll  find  him  yet,  the  greasy  brute  ; 

I'll  turn  the  house  quite  upside  down. 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Mrs.  Ford. 

My  maid's  old  aunt  of  Brentford. 

I'm  mistress  here,  I'll  not  submit  I 

Ford. 

Ford. 

A  cozening  quean,  a  vile  witch  ! 

I'll  have  your  life  ! 

Have  I  not  forbid  her  my  house  ? 

You  shall  see  and  you  shall  rue, 

What  a  righteous  rage  can  do,  etc. 

Mrs.  Ford. 

I  beg  of  you,  now  good  my  dear. 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Good  gentlemen,  I  pray  you, 

•XT                                         •        •              >          •            1                             • 

Let  him  not  beat  the  poor  old  woman ! 

How  suspicion  s  jealous  view 

Can  in  folly  man  imbrew,  etc. 

Mrs.  Page. 

Ford. 

Give  me.  Mother  Prat,  your  hand, 

Who  knocks.? 

I'll  support  you  to  the  door. 

Slender.^   Caius^  Page* 

Ford. 

Unlock,  good  Ford, 

Prat's  her  name,  I  understand. 

We  come  at  your  behest ! 

Prats  she  shall  have  by  the  score. 

Hang  her,  witch,  what  wants  she  here? 

Ford. 

Is  she  up  at  fortune-telling? 

Come  in,  come  in  !     O  friends,  behold  what 

I  endure 

Falstaff. 

From  this  most  shameless,  wicked  woman  ! 

What  say  you,  Sir?     I'm  hard  of  hearing. 

Page. 

Ford. 

Then  you've  already  found  him,  neighbor .? 

I'll  bewitch  you,  fortune-tell  you. 

Teach  you  good  men  to  deceive ! 

Ford. 

Not    vet.      She    ventures    to    oppose    my 

J                                                                                                                                     1.    L                                      J 

Falstaff. 

search. 

W^hat  you  mean,  I  can't  perceive  I 

Yet   all   in  vain!      The    hunt  we'll    push 

with  vigor ! 

Ford. 

Caius, 

Out,  you  baggage,  out,  begone  I 

0  del  I  quelle  chose  cpouvantable  I 

He  has   prepare   for  him   of  fish   a   pretty 

The  two  Women. 

kettle ! 

(Pretty  aches  h^'U  feel  anon  !) 

THE    MERRT    WIVES    OF    WINDSOR. 


31 


Ford. 

Ah  !     That  hag  I've  given  a  birching, 
Now,  good  Sirs,  begin  the  searching, 
If  I  cry  out  upon  no  trail, 
Then  never  trust  me  when  I  hail ! 

Ford^  Page^  and  Slender. 

Eyes  wide  open  !  ears  attending. 
Whoe'er  finds  him  hold  him  fast ! 

He  will  pay  for  his  offending. 
If  to-day  he's  caught  at  last. 

\  ^7  >  malice  gauge  ! 


No  one  can 


The  two   Women, 


Eyes  wide  open  !     Ears  attending ! 
Whoe'er  finds  him  hold  him  fast ! 
Merry  is  the  joke  impending, 
O'er  these  men  of  folly  vast. 
Ha  !  he  burns  with  jealous  rage, 
No  one  can  his  malice  gauge  ! 

Caius. 

Out^  my  ears  I  am  attending, 
Attention  !  I  'old  heem  fast. 

He  must  pay  for  hees  offending. 

If  I  do  heem  catch  at  last ! 
Jalousie  makes  me  to  rage, 
My  malice  I  can  not  gauge ! 


Allegro. 


■^^,*s^- 


ACT   III. 

Scene   I. — A  room  in  Pagers  house.    Ford  and  Wife^ 
Page  and  Wife  and  Anne  Page  seated  at  a  table. 

Ford. 
[Kneeling  at  the  feet  of  Mrs.  Ford.l 

Sweetheart,  will  you  ever  forgive  me  } 

Mrs.  Ford. 
Arise,  my  dear ;   all   is  forgiven  and  for- 
gotten, so  you  cast  aside  your  foolish  jealousy. 

Ford. 
Henceforth  do  what  thou  wilt ;  I  rather 
suspect  the  sun  with  cold   than  thee  with 
wantonness. 

Page. 

By  heaven  !  You  women  are  fertile  of  in- 
vention. But  once  again,  to  make  as  public 
sport,  do  you  appoint  a  meeting  with  this 
old  fat  fellow,  where  we  may  take  him  and 
disgrace  him  for  it. 

Ford. 
There  is  no   better  plan  than  that  they 
spoke  of. 

Mrs.  Ford. 
He  shall  come  to  us  as  Heme  the  Hunter 
in  the  park  at  midnight. 

Mrs.  Page, 
Listen  to  our  plan  :  ^ 


^'- 


f 


f^ 


-■^■^^- 


i^feS: 


Mrs.  Page. 


Of      Heme    the        Hunt  -  er,    a         le  -  gend       old 


^ 


-^-=^^- 


A — 


Tells 


JE3; 


-=; — ?v- 


-=!—•—: 


32 


THE  MERRY  WIVES   OF    WINDSOR, 


m 


m. 


-^-=^^ N- 


how       he    ranged    in      Wind  -  sor's  wold, 


Day        out, 


day 


f^F 


-A-"=l — =1- 


i^— -iv 


In  -   to         night,        I      ween, 


Day      in, 


day 


-t^ 


iiiiiiiMi  iH»« |-|^-H F-#- 


.-Jl 


EtE'S=?=E 


S 


giEgE^jij^ 


^ 


ii: 


A  1     1 


«*tl 


:S-+rj=^— =1— n- 


i=;^=r: 


^?r5: 


J L^ 1 0  _ff_ 


i-^ 


:i=P: 


•-■--»i-*-»i- 


i=d: 


out, 


.   With    shout  and  rout 


He         hunt  -  ed        a 


hart  with 


lisiii^^srf 


^^ 


=f=gg 


5^: 


:i^=J=t 


-ir 


-i^-ilr^ 


-• — » 


In^^-U-I q-^i^n^iziT 


e^^^ifr 


^*= 


e=t: 


m 


-\- 


■:X 


-4-fr. 


v^z 


:1= 


m 


mur    -    der  -  ous    bow,   ....      With 


huz 


i 


t^ 


S=^^^ 


and  with 


J^. 


»/•     / 


s/       ^ 


' . 8=1— JT— 4-* ^ 


g^l^^^EgEg- 


? 


-^^ 


^ 


*1- 


7 HE  MERRT  WIVES  OF   WINDSOR, 


33 


PEI^^ 


gay 


hal   -  loo,   .   .   .   That  fled  with   haste     to      the       oak 


tree,      a  shield 'gainst 


5/  /       ^/   P 


pS^Jl 


-#-1— 


« 


iz?- 


i^z: 


:=t: 


;»iE^ 


:gi^»-^- 


The  hunter,  eager,  fierce  and  wild, 
Recked  not  a  whit  the  omen  mild. 
O,  Hunter !   that  shaft  from  thy  quiver 
Hath  made  thee  hunt  there  forever ! 

Of  Heme,  the  Hunter,  a  legend  old 
Tells  how  he  ranged  in  Windsor's  wold, 

Night  out,  night  in, 

Till  the  sun  was  seen  ; 

Night  in,  night  out. 

With  shout  and  rout ! 
He  wears  on  his  head  the  deer's  antlers  high, 
And  fearful  rings  his  tally-ho  cry : 
'^  O  fly  the  holy  oak-tree, 
Lest  death  resistless  invoke  thee  !  " 
When  strikes  the  bell  the  sunless  noon, 
And  highest  rides  the  radiant  moon, 
Doth  Heme  forever  there  tarry. 
And  seizes  ail  for  quarry  ! 

Page  and  Eord, 
Bravo !  bravo ! 

Mrs.  Eord. 
Nan  Page,  my  daughter,  and  my  little  son. 
And  three  or  four  of  their  growth,  will  dress 
Like  urchins,  ouphies,  and  fairies  green  and 

white. 
With  rounds  of  waxen  tapers  on  their  heads, 


And  rattles  in  their  hands.    Upon  a  sudden, 
As  Falstaff,  she  and  I  are  newly  met. 
Let  them  from  forth  a  sawpit  rush  at  once. 
With  some  diffused  song ;  upon  their  siglit, 
We  two  in  great  amazedness  will  fly. 
Then  let  them  all  encircle  him  about, 
And,  fairy-like,  to  pinch  the  unclean  knight, 
And  ask  him  why  that  hour  of  fairy  revel. 
In  their  so  secret  paths  he  dares  to  tread, 
In  shape  profane. 

Mrs.  Page. 
My  Nan  shall  distribute  the  parts. 

Ford. 

And  I'll  again  to  the  knight ;  he  confides 
all  to  his  friend  Brook. 

Mrs.  Ford. 
Come  then  us  for  the  sport  prepare. 

Scene  II.  —  Mistress  Page.     Anne  Page. 

Mrs.  Page. 

And  now,  sweet  child,  a  word  of  weight 
with  you.  Thou  know'st  the  doctor's  love 
and  that  he  would  take  thee  to  wife. 


34 


THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF   WINDSOR, 


Anne. 
I  know. 

Mrs.  Page. 

The  mummery  which  we  have  planned 
shall  see  the  consummation  of  my  wish. 
You  shall  dress  in  red,  and  by  that  token 
Dr.  Caius  will  know  you,  fly  with  you 
in  the  height  ©f  the  burly,  and  wed  you  in 
Eton  Chapel. 

Anne. 
Ah  heaven  !     If  it  but  succeed ! 

Mrs.  Page. 

Fear  not ;  all  will  go  well.  I  give  you 
good-day,  Mistress  Doctor ! 

\_Exit  Mrs.  Ford.] 

Anne. 

My  dear  mother,  ne'er  can  your  Nan  be- 
come the  consort  of  yon  Frenchman ;  her 
heart  belongs  to  Fenton.  Qiiick  to  warn 
my  love  of  the  plot,  that  he  may  reap  its 
benefits. 

\Prepares  to  wrtte.l 

Page. 

[Entering.] 

What  matter  do  you  write,  my  child  .'* 

Anne. 

I  —  I  was  but  distributing  the  parts  in  our 
masquerade. 

Page. 

Ha !  then  my  device  will  come  in  play. 
My  Nan  to-night  must  appear  as  a  fairy  in 
green,  that  Slender  may  recognize  her. 
He'll  escape  with  you  in  the  midst  of  the 
rout  and  you  will  be  wedded  in  the  chapel 
at  Eton. 

Anne. 
So  spon,  dear  father? 

Page. 

[Sternly.] 
You'll  not  longer  put  fortune  aside.     Do 
not  vex  me. 

Anne. 
No,  father  mine,  I'll  be  obedient. 


Page. 

Bravely  spoken,  and  like  a  dutiful 
daughter.  And  so  farewell  until  to-night, 
Mistress  Slender. 

[Exit:] 

Anne. 

{Laughing.] 
Ha,  ha !  My  plan  is  perfected.  To  Caius 
I'll  send  a  green  gown,  to  Slender  a  red. 
Each  will  think  'tis  I  within  the  garment. 
As  for  Fenton  —  take  whatever  shape  thou 
wilt,  my  love,  thy  Anne  will  recognize  thee  ! 


Anne  Page. 

'Tis  well !  completed  is  our  plan  ; 

It  but  remains  to  move  to  execution.    Thou, 

Of  love  the  patron  sprite,  O  lovely  fay, 

Titania,    to  me  protection  give. 

And  lend  to  me  your  robe  of  purest  white. 

That  airy-light  towards  the  goal  will  waft  me  ! 

Within  no  verdant  dress  will  I  enwrap  me, 

Nor  e'en  a  rosy  vesture  choose. 

No  !  white  shall  be  my  robe. 

All  white  my  veil,  and  white  the  wreath. 

With  fragrant  lilies  twining  in  my  ringlets. 

Thus  clad  I'll  thee,  beloved,  meet, 
Thoult  know  me  thus,  and  fondly  greet. 
And  pledge  thyself  forever  mine, 
I  myself  thine,  all  thine  ! 

Deep  in  the  forest's  leafy  shade, 
Invites  a  cool,  sequester'd  glade. 
The  moon's  bright  face  in  radiance  shin- 
ing, 
Will  light  our  path  'mid  boughs  entwining. 

And  art  thou  then,  beloved,  mine, 
And  I  unalterably  thine, 
Then  every  forgiveness  will  not  wait. 
To  seal  our  happy  fate  ! 

O  dream  of  enchantment, 

^  O  blissful  joy  ! 

Your  smile  is  so  golden. 

Without  alloy ! 
The  clouds  are  dissolved 

In  oceans  of  blue, 
And  moonbeams  bespangle 

The  meadows  anew ! 
Fulfilment  advances 

With  roseate  hue, 
Our  pure  love  to  render 

The  honor  that's  due  ! 


THE    MERRT    WIVES    OF     WINDSOR, 


35 


Scene  III.  —  Windsor  Park.     Ford^  Pcig^y  Slender. 

Page. 

Remember,  son  Slender,  my  daughter's 
dress  is  green. 

Slender. 

Ay,  forsooth ;  I  have  spoken  with  her, 
and  we  have  a  nay-word  how  to  know  one 
another.  I  come  to  her  and  cry  '^mum," 
she  cries  "  budget,"  and  by  that  we  know 
one  another. 

Page. 

That's  good  too.  Mistress  Page  will  be 
amazed  when  I  present  my  daughter  Mis- 
tress Slender ! 

Ford. 

Let  us  away.  Our  friends  must  be  al- 
ready gathered. 

Page. 
Yes,  we'll  away  —  Farewell,  my  son-in- 
law. 

Slender. 

O  sweetest  Anna  ! 

\Exit  all.] 

Scene   IV.  —  Mistress  Page,  Mistress  Ford,  Caius. 

Mrs.  Page. 

Master  Doctor,  my  daughter  is  in  red ; 
by  that  you'll  know  her. 

Caius. 
Ah,  mtlle  remerciments  I     By  gar,  I  am 
vary  happy  —  I  know  vat  I  have  to  do  — 
Au  revoir.,  Alesdames. 

\Exit:\ 

Mrs.  Page. 
How  Page  will  stare  ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Let  us  in.  Falstaff  may  come  at  any 
moment. 

lExit:\ 
Scene  V.  —  Voices  in  the  forest. 

O  silvery  moon ! 

O  lovely  night ! 
When  quiet  reigns 

Love's  watch  is  bright ! 

Falstaff. 

The  Windsor  bell  hath  midnight  rung, 

The  hour  all  sorrow  scorns  ; 
Remember,  Jove,  thou  wert  a  bull, 

'Twas  love  sat  on  thy  horns. 


If  love  could  thus  a  god  translate 
I'll  be  forgiv'n  my  antlered  pate. 

But,  hist !  a  moving  to  and  fro, — 

Ah,  who  comes  here.?     My  graceful  doe.'' 

Mrs.  Ford. 
Pst!  Pst!     Sir  John! 

Mrs.  Page. 
Pst!  Pst!     Sir  John! 


Baa! 


Falstaff. 


nearer. 


Mrs.  Ford,     [spoken.] 
He   does   not   trust   us   yet.     I    must   go 

Mrs.  Ford, 
My  gallant  deer,  'tis  only  1 1 

Falstaff. 
My  doe,  approach  me,  be  not  shy ! 

Mrs.  Page. 

Pst!  Pst! 

Falstaff. 

Hush  !  hush  !  there's  some  one  coming  near  I 

Mrs.  Ford. 
'Tis  only  Mistress  Page,  my  dear ! 

Mrs.  Page. 

Who  could  resist  your  pleading,  knight, 
Or  fail  your  sweet  love  to  requite  ? 

Falstaff. 

Let  the  sky  now  lighten  and  thunder, 
Rain  or  snow  hot  sulphur  and  pitch  I 

Naught  shall  tear  us  three  asunder, 
Make  us  feel  affliction's  stitch  ! 

Pot/i   Women. 
But  tell  us  first,  you  naughty  knight, 
Whether  we  dare  trust  you  quite ! 

Falstaff. 

Divide  me  like  a  bribe-buck ! 

To  dally  Falstaff  scorns  ; 
We'll  send  to  both  your  husbands 

This  ample  pair  of  horns  ! 
Come,  come ! 


Both   Women, 


Ah! 


36 


THE  MERRT  WIVES   OF    WINDSOR, 


Andante  lento, 
Mrs.  Ford. 
sempre.  p 


i^ 


Mrs.  Page. 
sempre,  p 


Falstaff.  _       _     ^ 


t=b 


m 


You  sweetheart,  precious  treas  -  ure,   If      we  should  be  disturbed, 


A  nook  I  know  where 


i 


M 


^-^=^ 


::1^ 


— ^-=5 h~f^— 


-A— ^ 


9^1 


=±-± 


ilkzL^J 


i 


J=±=i=5: 


Mrs.  Ford. 


V — V — ~ 


i 


You      sweetheart,  precious    treas  -  ure,     If 
Mrs.  Page.  ^:^        p  :> 


^         -»- 


You      sweetheart,  precious    treas   -  ure,     If 


9i^fc 


=f^ 


:?=i: 


pleas  -  ure  has  nev  -  er    yet  been  curbed. 


You      sweetheart,  pre-cious    treas  -  ure.    If 


fefe=J^^jEzz=jg 


rail. 


we    should  be      dis-turbed. 


£=P^ 


A   nook   i   know  where  pleas  •  ure      has   nev  -  er    yet    been 


■-^ 


5 


-S-Cj — ^ — « .-3 


^^ 


:t?t 


gfe 


we    should  be      dis-turbed, 

-Z Z > •-r#-- 


A   nook   I   know  where  pleas  -  ure      has  nev  -  er    yet    been 

-ttT — t- 


t=&=-^--i=^l 


we    should  be      dis-turbed, 


1^=5: 


P^^=S^ 


A  nook   I   know  where  pleas  -  ure      has  nev  -  er    yet    been 


Fed.        t'      ^        t*Ped.         .     ♦  •  T      ^  .        •  ^J^ 


te^ 


raZ?. 


THE  MERRY  WIVES   OP   WINDSOR, 


37 


a  tempo. 


P 


=F 


curbed. 

:i2= 


Oh, 
P 


-Jtzt^ 


Oh  come ! 


:»t 


Ah, 


t 


Sir 


curbed. 


fcfezt: 


Oh, 


s. 


:i=ti^ 


Oh  come ! 


•-r^ 


Ah, 


Sir 


curbed. 


Oh  come ! 


Come, 


Oh 


Ped.  a  temjyo. 


^  0 


P 


^-# 


-s^^ 


38 


THE  MERRT   WIVES   OF    WINDSOR. 


^-Sf 


-^w- 


j)oco  rail. 


a  tempo. 


-:^~ 


t=r 


plead  -  ing,         "Who  could  re  -  sist  your  plead 


ing,  You  sweetheart,  precious    treas  -  ure,  If 


--N — ^ — c^ 


^=Jzz5tz.-i=:t^ 


i^^ 


1^-=^: 


^< 


A-A- 


-•— •- 


plead 


ing,  Who   could   re  -  sist  your   plead 


g^, 


i^ 


ing.  You  sweetheart,  precious    treas  -  ure,  If 


^^mm 


-f=w^ 


V— h 


seek, 


The    hid  -  den  nook  we'll  seek, 
poco  rail. 


You  sweetheart,  precious 
a  tempo. 

4 


treas  -  ure,  If 


p=^ 


pp 


Bt 


g^^zfe?; 


^— u 


-• — •- 


Fed.  pp 

^ 


p  Fed. 


Fed. 


s^^^m 


r— r 


'&^^t 


fe 


r- 


<r  rall.^ 


s 


^ 


:t=:-; 


^ 


:er-^ 


13E 


•-^ 


we  should  be  disturbed,  A  nook  I  know  where  pleas  -  ure  Has  nev  -  er    yet        been  curbed. 


^ — 4 — « — ,i  r   ^ — m-^g-])^-^ — «-,_Cj^ II 


'-=U- 


-i=i- 


-*-^ 


we  should  be  disturbed,  A  nook  I  know  where  pleas  -  ure  Has  nev  -  er    yet       been  curbed. 


gizfc 


rr=f^ 


■*-r*- 


-C-M 


P 


tw. 


^^B 


we  should  be  disturbed, 


A  nook  I  know  where  pleas  -  ure  Has  nev  -  er    yet        been  curbed. 


THE    MERRT    WIVES    OF     WINDSOR, 


39 


Both    Women. 

Oh,  heaven  !  What  strange  noise  is  this  ? 
Fly,  fly! 

Falstaff. 

Heaven  help  me,  they  are  fays, 
'Tis  death  to  see  their  plays ! 

Scene    VI.  —  Anne  Page   {as    Titania),   Fenton    {as 
Oder  on)  J  Page  {as  Heme),  Fairies. 

Fairies, 

Ye  fairies  v^hite,  and  red,  and  green, 
In  merry  revel  be  now  seen. 
Search  Windsor  castle  in  and  out 
And  let  it  ring  with  joyous  shout  1 

Anne  Page. 

All  mankind  sleeps.    No  eye  at  us  is  peeping, 
And  midst  the  flowers  our  happy  tryst  we're 

keeping ; 
From  nightingale  our  sweetest  words  we'll 

con. 
Oh,  haste  to  me,  my  dearest  Oberon ! 

Fenton.^ 

Gone  is  the  gloom  that  us  so  long  affrighted. 

And  love  at  last,  has  firmly  us  united. 

We  are  reconciled.    How  sweet  the  moment. 

Ah! 
Again  is  mine  the  fair  Titania  ! 

Both. 
We're  reconciled,  etc. 

Fairies. 
TheyVe  reconciled,  etc. 

Fairies. 

Now  once  again  let  all  advance. 
And  join  the  gladsome  fairy  dance  I 
Through   bush    and   brier,    through    flower 

and  thorn, 
Come  Hunter  Heme,  come  blow  your  horn  ! 
What's  this  .'*     Come  blow  your  horn  ! 

Page. 

Observe,  the  music's  dearth. 
Here  is  a  man  of  middle  earth  I 

Fairies. 

A  man.?     A  man?     Oh,  villainy  ! 
Up,  seek  him  !  Drag  him  o'er  the  ground. 
We  have  him  here  !     He's  quickly  found  ! 
See,  Heme,  behold  his  treachery ! 


Page. 

What  drove  thee,  daring  child  of  man, 
To  follow  thus  the  mummer's  plan.? 
The  fairies'  council  thou  hast  heard. 
And  death  should  be  thy  quick  reward  I 
Pinch  him,  fairies,  mutually. 
Pinch  him  for  his  villainy  ! 
Pinch  him  till  he  hath  confessed 
All  his  treason  manifest ! 

Caiusy  Slender y  Page,  and  Chorus. 

Chorus. 

Pinch  him  fairies  mutually. 
Pinch  him  for  his  villainy ! 
Pinch  him,  burn  him,  turn  about! 
Till  the  moon  and  stars  are  out ! 

Caius, 

Ah,  ze  fairie  there  in  red. 
Is  Mees  Anna  as  she  said  ! 

Slender, 

Yonder  beck'ning  fay  in  gre.en, 
Is  sweet  Anna,  all  serene  ! 

Page. 

Still  he's  not  the  crime  confessed. 
That's  contained  within  his  breast. 
Up,  ye  fairies,  one  and  all, 
On  him  now  in  myriads  fall ! 

Chorus. 

Pinch  him,  fairies  mutually, 
Pinch  him  for  his  villainy ! 
Pinch  him,  burn  him,  turn  about, 
Till  the  moon  and  stars  are  out ! 
Who  sets  pitfalls  for  the  unwary 

Oft  himself  falls  in  the  snare, 
Of  your  wits  you  must  be  more  chary. 
If  you'd  deceive  wives  good  and  fair  ! 
Unbeliever ! 
Arch  deceiver ! 
Vengeance  has  you  now  o'ertaken  ! 
Vile  inventions, 
Base  intentions, 
Henceforth  be  they  all  forsaken ! 
Assignations ! 
Profligations ! 
Thy  gross  fat  we've  soundly  shaken  ! 
Your  persistence 
In  existence 
Stops,  else  you  repent ! 

[Falstaff  tries  to  escape  unseen.] 


40 


THE  MERRY  WIVES   OF  WINDSOR. 


AIL 

Stop,  deceiver ! 

Falstaff. 

Mercy 

Page. 


[  Spoken^ 
[On  his  knees.] 


Nay,  do  not  fly.     I  think  we  have  watched 

you  now ; 
Will  none  but  Heme  the  Hunter  serve  your 

turn? 
Ford. 
Sir  John,  here  is  Master  Brook,  and  here 
is  the  wife  of  Master  Brook,  and  Master 
Brook  is  Master  Ford,  Sir  John,  and  who's 
a  cuckoldy  knave  now.  Sir  John? 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Sir  John,  we  have  had  ill-luck ;  we  could 
never  meet.  I  will  never  take  you  for  my 
love  again,  but  I  will  always  count  you  my 
deer! 

Falstaff. 

I  do  perceive  that  I  am  made  an  ass. 

Mrs.  Page. 
Such  a  hodge-pudding ! 

Mrs.  Ford. 
A  bag  of  flax  ! 

Page. 
Old,   cold,   withered,   and   of  intolerable 
entrails ! 

Ford. 
And  one  that  is  as  slanderous  as  Satan ! 

Falstaff. 

Well,  I  am  your  theme ;  you  have  the 
start  of  me ;  I  am  dejected ;  use  me  as  you 
will. 

Enter  Slender  and  Cuius,  hand  in  hand. 

Slender. 
Whoo,  ho  !  ho  !  father  Page ! 

Catus. 

Vare  is  Madame  Page?     By  gar,  I  am 

cozened.     I  ha'  married  un  gargon^  a  boy  ; 

un  paisan^  by  gar,  a  boy ;  it  is  not  Anne 

Page.    I  am  cozened  ;  I'll  raise  all  Windsor  ! 

Page. 
My  heart  misgives  me  !  here  comes  Mas- 
ter Fenton. 


Enter  Fenton  and  Anne  Page.       \i 

Anne. 

Pardon,  good  father,  good  my  mother, 
pardon ! 

Fenton, 

She  and  I,  long  since  contracted,  are  now 
so  sure  that  nothing  can  dissolve  us. 

Page  and  Mrs.  Page, 

Here  is  no  remedy,  and  therefore  take 
our  blessing ! 

Page. 
Be  comforted,  good  Master  Slender ! 

Slender, 
O  sweetest  Anna !  - 

Mrs.  Ford, 

And  you,  Sir  John,  come  with  us.  All 
is  forgiven.  We  will  establish  peace,  and 
at  Anne's  wedding  sports  you  shall  drown 
your  sorrows  in  brooks  of  sack. 

Falstaff. 

I  am  glad,  though  you  have  ta'en  a  special 
stand  to  strike  at  me,  that  your  arrow  hath 
glanced. 

Page, 

What  cannot  be  eschew'd  must  be  em- 
braced. 

Falstaff. 

When  night-dogs  run  all  sorts  of  deer  are 
chased. 

Anne  Page.,  Mrs,  Ford^  Mrs.  Page, 

'Tis  thus  that  our  sport  in  the  beautiful  night. 
The  hearts  and  the  hands  of  loving  ones 
plighted. 
Now  haste  to  the  wedding !     All  happy  and 
light. 
By  none  be  the  gladness  and  merriment 
slighted  ! 
Sir  John  —  we  are  with  mercy  fraught. 
We  will  pardon  !    And  to  all  gratulations. 

\To  the  Public :\ 

Your  pardon  we  crave.     We've  only  taught 
That  wives  may  be  merry,  yet  honest! 

END    OF   THE    OPERA. 


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1.00 

DAMNATION  OF  FAUST. 

BERLIOZ. 

2.50 

OLIVETTE. 

AVDRAN. 

.50 

DINORAH. 

MEYERBEER. 

1.00 

OSTROLENKA. 

BONAWITZ. 

4.00 

DOCTOR  OF  ALCANTARA. 

EICHBERG. 

1.50 

PINAFORE. 

SULLIVAN. 

.50 

FANTINE.                      BERNICAT  and  MESSAGER. 

1.00 

PRECIOSA.     (English  and  German  words.)    "WEBER.         .75 

FATINITZA. 

VON  SUPPE. 

2.00 

PRINCESS  IDA. 

SULLIVAN. 

S.OO 

FAUST. 

GOUNOD. 

1.00 

SORCERER. 

SULLIVAN. 

.75 

FIELD   OF  HONOR.     (Pre  aux 

Clercs.)     EEROLD. 

2.00 

SPECTRE  KNIGHT. 

CELLIER. 

1.00 

GILLETTE. 

AUDRAN. 

1.00 

T.  1.  Q. 

LAVALLEE. 

1.50 

HEART  AND  HAND. 

LECOCQ. 

1.50 

TROVATORE. 

VERDI. 

1.00 

INFANTA'S  DOLLS. 

GUTS  ART. 

1.00 

TWO  CADIS. 

EICHBERG. 

2.00 

LAKME. 

BELIEFS. 

1.60 

WIDOW. 

LAVALLEE. 

1.50 

LITTLE  DUKE. 

LECOCQ. 

1.00 

ZENOBIA. 

PRATT. 

arranged  for 

2.00 

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